Article imprinter



July 12, 1960 s. A. NILSSON ARTICLE IMPRIN'IER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14, 1958 INVENTOR. 5mm A/ILJsoA/ arraza/AY July 12, 1960 Y s. A. NILSSON ARTICLE IMPRINTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14, 1958 w M m a n a a 5 7 p mm E a u. J B w wa .H. 1.. 1 0 v. m

INVENTOR.

5 4. NIL ssoh/ with the accompanying drawings.

2,944,480 ARTICLE EVIPRINTER Filed Feb. 14,1958, Ser. No. 715,334 '3 Claims. (Cl. 101-11) This invention relates to branding and more particularly'to anautomatic apparatus for branding.

Frequently it is desirable for manufacturers to identify their products so that the consumer may readily recognize it. are identified with the manufacturers imprint, such as a trademark or'trade name, the imprint is placed on the article by stamping or branding. In the wood industry for instance, it has been found desirable to use a branding tool to imprint the manufacturers mark on wooden poles after the poles have been debarked. The branding tool is conventionally an electric branding iron, a gas heated brander or a hammered die. Heretofore such imprinting has been hand operated so that great amounts of handling of poles and branding tools were involved. Furthermore, due to the inefficiencies of hand operation the possibility exists that not every pole was branded before shipment. It is universally recognized consequently, that an automatic imprinting means is' needed to avoid these disadvantages.

. An object of the present invention, therefore; is to provide a remotely operated apparatus which will automatically-place an'imprint on an article.

A'further object'is to providean imprinting apparatus which is actuated by the delivery of. an articlethereto so that the imprinting of the article is assured.

The invention contemplates a novel apparatus for placing a manufacturers mark on an article by Way or an imprinting tool which is automatically lowered on to the article to be marked as the article is receivedand after the imprinting of the mark on the article, the imprinting tool is automatically lifted and the article discharged. A

In many industries where large numbers of articles- United States Patent selectively move the piston 28 of cylinder 25 up 'or- I Eg s to an actuator C and control means D so as to an imprint on a pole at an appropriate interval. To this end the-holder 12 is attached to aguide arm 13 which is swivelly mounted on upright 19 .by rotatable pin .17, the upright being supported by any suitable means well known in the art. Another guide arm 2% is also swivelly mounted on upright 19 by a pin 21 and a connecting arm 22 is connected to the two guide arms 13 and 20 by pins 23 and 24, respectively, so that any upward or down ward motionimparted to one guide arm is imparted to the other and to the imprinting tool A in such a manner that the tool A is maintained in an upright vertical position at all times.

Air actuating cylinder 25 providesv the upward and downward actuation for tool A and to this eud'the cylinder 25 is connected to-a, base 26 by a suitable rotatable. linkage 27.

to guide arm 13 by a suitable rotatable pin 29 inserted The piston 28 of cylinder 25' is connected in thepiston arm 30. Together with a lubricator 32, a gage ,33 and regulator valve 34 means are provided for the proper actuation of cylinder 25 from an air a down. By conventional'means (not shown) the valve is returned when coil 38 is de-energized to the position which it had subsequent to energization of the coil 38 in the conventional manner of a two-way solenoid valve as is well-known in the art. When the apparatus is ready to receive the pole for branding therelay'coil 38 is deenergized so that the valve 37 causes air pressure to flo'w double contact'limitswitch 43 so that armature 44 of;

the switch is engaged with its contact point45.

. When a pole is to be branded'relay coil 38 is ener-- gized to cause the'piston 28 and the imprinting tool A The above and further objects and novel featuresof understood, however, that the drawings are not intended.

as a definition of the invention'but are for the purpose of illustration only.

,Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing showing the mechanical components, the pneumatically operated components and the electrically operated components of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial elevation of the main components shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a partial cross 2. I Fig. 3a is a detail of actuating means and other components shown in Fig. 3. Referring to Fig. 1, the imprinting tool A and the article receiving and holding means B-of this invention cooperate with actuators C andcontrol means D so that the branding operation is substantially automatic.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 the imprinting tool A, sometimes called the brander A, comprises an electrically heated element 11 held by holder 12. A

section of components of parallelogram type linkage E connects imprinting tool to move downwardjfor branding. This operation takes place when a debarked pole, P (Fig. 3) carried by V moveable-carrying arm 61 connected to moving belt 62, drops off a moving ramp 63 into yokes 64and 65 which have fixed members 67 and 69 and moveable gates '70 and .71. 'When the pole P-drops into these yokes, the pole P is firmly cradled or yoked. As the pole drops into the yokes '64 and 65 the weight of the pole moves .pivotally mounted impeller arm 74 (Fig. 3a) which is advantageously connected to the yoke 64 by pin 73,. against an actuating arm 75 of a limit switch 76 so that normally open armature 77 engages contact 78. It will be noted that while the impeller arm 74 and the limit switch 76 shown herein are attached to yoke 64 they may, ifdesired, be attached to yoke 65 Without in; any way affecting'their function. When this contact of;

lead 81, normally closed contact 83 and armature 85.,

- lead 86, junction 87, lead '88, junction 89, lead 90, arma ture 77,--contact.78, lead 91,.relay 80,lead 92, contact 45, armature 44 to ground. The armatures 93 and 137 of relay are moved upwardly upon energization or v the, relay. Thus. thearmature 93 engages a contact'95 completing a circuit toenergize relay 38 from energy source '79 through junction-87, lead 98, relay 38 lead 99, contact 95, armature 93 to ground. The energization 9 relay e? se V l e mmber 6. ..Y%1Y9.;Z

Patented July 12,1960

brand to-inove so that air lines 40 and 41 are vented through vent 47 and air lines 48 and 49 are pressurized through choke 35 to the top of cylinder 25, thus causing the piston 28 to move downward; when the piston '28 moves downward the guide arms 13 and 20 are pulled downward "causing the arm 13 to be removed from the actuating arm 42' of switch 43 so that a spring 55 disengages armature 44 of switch 43 from contact 45 and engages armature 44' With con"- tact 57.

in. order to hold the tool 'A against the pole P for a suitabie branding interval a holding device 95, well known in the art, is attached to relay 80 to'ho'ld the armatures of relay St) upward for a suitable interval of time and this time interval is initiated by'the de enerfgization of relay 8i}, i.e., by the disengagement of armature 4'4 and contact 45. Such a device is "a Square D Company adjustable ipne'uinatic timing relay, Class 9050, NnmberRWIZD *and'such holding devices 'are' preferably of the adjustable type 'so that the holding interval may be :set anywhere from :a few seconds to several minutes as required or desired. After energization of relay 38 for 'as 'lojng'as its armature 93 and contact '95 are held engaged by the holding means 95, air pressure will be supplied to the top of cylinder 25 so that the tool A remains in contact with the pole P for the proper interval fo'r branding.

To "return the =br'and'er to its original position for receiving the next-*pole' P for branding after the predetermined interval of time elapses then the holding device 95 'drops the armatures of relay 8% and the resulting disengagement of armature '93 and contact 95 de-energizes relay 38 causing valve member 46 to be rotated so'that'air lines 48 and 49 are vented and air lines 41? and 41 are pressurized. When air lines 40 and 41 are pressurized the piston 28 rises and the tool A is'returned to its original position (shown in Fig. 1 at the top of it's stroke for the beginning of a 'new'branding cycle.

The'branding means has been'descr'ibed with its actuatiii'g means and-control'means. As mentioned previous- 1y the branding-means and the pole holding-means cooperate to'hold the pole while being br'an'dedand this operation is such that after the polehas beenbranded the holding means, in a manner to be described hereinafter, removes the b'randed-pole'from the bra'nde'r so that-another p'ole'niay be received for branding.

The holding means comprises yokes 64 and 65 "which are sp'aced apart from each other ahd mounted on a base 97 which in tii'rn'is suitably 'iiionntedas s'hownin FigsaZiand 3. 'Each'yok'e corn-prises a hired 'memberand a 'ni'oveable gate-member; as describedabove, "and the latter are'moyeable in-such away that, when they are in an upwardposition, they form'a V groove with the hired members for receivin'g and'holding' a pole for branding ahd "When they are in their-downward'position they cause-the branded pole to fall to a canted receiving incline The fixed members 67 and*69"aresuppor'ted by bases 97, 1d1-arid-19 in a suitable manner and the moveable-gate members 70 and 71"316fii16d'i0'2. rod 163 which is mo-veablei-n the fixed members 67 and69 and secured thereto by-nuts '105and 197 so'that the gates 71! and 71 and the 'rod 3"are moveable together.

"-The moveable 'gates are reciprocated upwardly and dow'n'wai dly an airc'ylinder 109*which is fixed'to lia'si'e i'97 by a-strap 111 and suitable nutsa'nd bolts. Advantageously-thecylinder 109 is attached to the gate'7ti by a move'able linkage 'pin 113. Actuation of this air as der is provide'dby air source "31 'throug'hsuitable" air linest o -be-dscribed hereinafter, two choke valves115 In anda tw'o way valve 119' which is part of as'olenoidva-lve 121. -Lubricato r 32, gage "33, andiegulat'or valve-Mare also connectedto these air lines.

relay 1-21 which is also part of solenoid valve121 ntrols' the direction of'a'ir new from the two-way Valve 119 150 sele'ctivelyfmove the-gates"up and downat'the It is "to benoted that proper time and this relay has a means (not shown) to return it to its de-energized position subsequently to energization in the manner of a two-way solenoid valve well known in the art. When the apparatus is ready to receive a pole for branding this relay 121 is de-energized so that air lines 125 and 126 are pressurized. Piston 127 in cylinder 109 is held in itsposition at the bottom of the cylinder 10-9 when lines 125 and 126 are pressurized. Rod 129 of piston 127 is corrected to the gate 70 by pin'1'13 and at this time holds the gates '70 and -71 I brand the pole and so that armature =44 and contact 57 engage for a suitable time interval and Whereliyafter the holding apparatus 95 drops-the armatures'ofrelay -80,-tlius closing the armature 137 with a contact 139, the relay 121 is energized from junction *89 through lead "-140, armature 137, contact 139, lead14'1, relay12'1 lead 142, contact 57, armature 44 togronnd. Thus 'afiter'the-pdle P is branded relay 121 -is energized-so that valve member 123 ismoved, causing air pressure'in lines 125 me $126 to be vented through choke I115 and a want 131 which causes air pressure to flow through 'TairIIi'nes 133, choke 1'17 and'air line 135th the bottom of cylinder 109?soithat the piston 127 is raised. This causesthezgates 76 and :71

to openand the pole 'P which was heldfor branding is ejected to a canted receiving incline 9-9.

So that the gates may be returned-to their close'd position for receiving and holding another pole P i he 'ejection of the polecauses spring 144 a) disengage armature 77 from contact 78. simultaneous'with this, armature93 disengages from contact '95 causing relay 58 to 'be heenergized thus actuating the valve member *46 to cause thetool A to return toits' up'per position. Afterthe' tool A returns to its t'op position it diseng ag'cs arm-attire 44 from 'contac't 57. When armature 44andeontact57-are disengaged, relay 12,1 is d'e-e'n'erg'ized thus tnov'i'n g valv'e member 128 to ventlines 135 and 13?; through=vent 13S and lp'ressu'rizin'g lines and 12 6; thus piston 1-27 is moved downward to cause the gates 70 and to be closed for receiving another pole Pf-to be branded.

In operation when armature $55 is'tnoved to engage contact 836f-an oif-on switch 143 a1'1d relays 38 -'80an"d 121 are de-energized, the tool A will be at the top df'its stroke 'and'th'e "get-35 79 and71 Willbe 'closed. This is the condition'illustrated-in Pig. 1. The yokes ancl' are then in a positionto rec'eivea pole? for The moving belt-62"and carrying'armhl (Fig. i along the incline 63and1pick up'apole P whichh' de-barked. The pole then *drops 'into the yokes constituted of fixed members 67, 69 and'gates '70, 71'. "The weight of the dropping'po'l'e causesarrnature 77 to engage Contact 7 8. I'his'engagement energizes relay SGso-that its armatures are movedupwardly. Theresultingengagement'of armature 93"an'd contact93'energizes relay 38 When relay 38 is energized the toolA movesid'ownw'ard causing the pole to bebran'de'das shown inFigs. '2 and .3. Thedownward movement of the tool A also causes armame ts and contact "45 to disengage "and armature 44- and contact 57 to engage. The disengagemenhof .a'rma-.

. cline 99. As the brander returns to the top of its stroke,

arm 13 disengages armature 44 from contact 57 so that relay 80 is-de-energized and this moves valve member 123 so that gates 70 and 71 are closed for receiving the next pole P and armature 44 engages contact 45 and spring 144 causes armature 77 and contact 78 to disengage for the beginning of another branding cycle which I move so that the tool A is raised while choke 35 con- Y trols the venting of lines 48 and 49 to raise the brander' to eject said pole sideways after said article is imprinted.

2. An apparatus for marking a polehaving a substantiall-y circular cross section comprising an electrically is initiated by a pole dropping oi the end of the move Q ing ramp 63 to the yokes 6 4 and 65.

The brander element as illustrated herein is heated at' the holding means and the branding means to their original positions for receiving another pole P for branding at the proper interval.

Although the foregoing has illustrated and described the invention in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as will now be understood by those skilled in the art. 7

What is claimed is: a

-1. An apparatus for marking a pole having a sub stantially round cross section comprising electrically heated imprinting means, first pneumatically operated raising and lowering means for said imprinting. means, I

first electrically operated actuating means to selectively actuate said first pneumatic means, selectively engageable pole holding means having a. r'noveable member adapted alternately to close so as to form a substantially V-shaped groove which cradles said pole adjacent its ends and which opens so as to release said pole, a second pneumatically operated raising and lowering means for said moveable'member, and a second electrically operated actuating means to selectively actuate said second pneumatic means so that said holding means and said actuating means cooperate to imprint said pole and heated branding element, a series of levers attached to said element for maintaining said element in an upright vertical position, a first air cylinder attached to said levers for raising and lowering said element to brand said poles, a pole holdingmeans having a moveable gate member for cradling said pole adjacent its ends, a second air cylinder attached to said gate, and control means having a time delay mechanism cooperating with said first and second air cylinders for branding a pole in said holder and for ejecting said pole sideways after it is branded.

3. An apparatus adapted to mark a substantially cy-. 'lindrical pole comprising a fixed support,'a moveable die for marking said pole, a pair of spaced levers, meanspivotably connecting one end of each lever to said die, means pivotab ly connecting the other end of each of said levers to said fixed support, whereby said levers are maintained parallel to each other whereby the movement of said die is. maintained in a straight line, first pneumatic means for reciprocating saiddie, said first pneumatic means having inlet and outlet means, an air source, a first solenoid actuated two-way valve connecting said inlet and outlet means, two spaced yokes connected to said fixed support so as to cooperate with said die and constituting a V-shaped cradle for said pole to hold said pole in the line of movement of said die, said yokes having one fixed member and one moveable gate member, second air actuating means for selectively moving said gate member to open and close said yokes, said second air actuating means having an inlet and outlet means, a second solenoid actuated two-way valve connecting the latter inlet and outlet means to said air source; and coordinating control means for said first and second solenoid actuated two-Way valves including an electropneumatic timer for automatically actuating said first pneumatic means to move said die against a pole cradled in said yokes to hold said die against said pole cradled in said yokes for a predetermined time and to remove said die from said pole cradled in said yokes after the elapse of a predetermined time, said coordinating control means also for actuating said, second pneumatic'means to hold said gate members so as to close for moving said gate members so as to open said yokes to remove a pole sideways from said yokes after marking and for moving said gate members so as to close said yokes after said marked pole is removed so as to ready said yokes for receiving another pole to be marked.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,369,934 Onstad Mar. 1, 1921 

